The Saratoga County Fair is well underway, but before the first guests entered the gates, fair dignitaries and volunteers were already predicting a banner year based on fair memories.
“This year I think the question is what’s not new,” Susan Farnsworth, a publicist for the fair.
As always, fair officials, local dignitaries and volunteers gathered on Monday, July 16, the night before the gates opened, to go over the coming week’s events.
“I’ve been coming here since before I was 5 years old. I love this fair, it’s part of the village,” said Ballston Spa Mayor John Romano. He also thanked fair volunteers for making Ballston Spa a “destination place” and wished everybody fun times.
Indeed, the village’s fairgrounds are expected to be host to as many as 100,000 visitors during the fair’s run, which ends Sunday, July 22. During that time, attendees will enjoy over 3,000 exhibits along with midway rides, games and more.
Milton Supervisor Dan Lewza said that as part of their town’s summer camp program, that kids would be attending the fair instead of The Great Escape, as per their usual camp trip.
“We should take advantage of what’s in our own backyard and tome, this is the best fair. What we have to offer here is better than The Great Escape,” said Lewza. Campers were set to visit the fair on Thursday, July 19.
Though the fair is a regional draw, this year’s official beer and wine are all local. The fair beer is an as-yet-unnamed lager and comes fromThe Olde Saratoga Brewing Company. The wine is said to be light with fruity essences and comes from Ledge Rock Hill Winery in Corinth. It has been named The Saratoga County Fair Green Apple Blanc.
The beverages may be new to the fair, though the idea of getting locally produced foods is not.
Vice President of the fair, Frank Griffin said that a few years ago he tried to get something along the lines of A Taste of Saratoga off the ground, though it never took off. Having the beer and wine at the fair is perhaps a first step in what may develop into Griffin’s idea in the future, though.
“It’s not dead yet,” he said.
On Monday, Assemblyman James Tedisco read an official New York Assembly Citation in recognition of the fair’s 171 years running, making it the oldest fair in the state. He said his family would all pile into the car and head to the fair and remembered the great food, rides and 4H along with looking at the animals
He also recalled playing his favorite fair game, basketball.
“We had to make three, I could really do that on occasion many years ago and won a teddy bear every once in a while,” he said.
The former Union basketball player added he managed to impress a few dates with his hoops skills.
Town of Ballston Supervisor Patti Southworth spends the week at the fair every year since she took office. Her first fair was in 1978.
“The fair is one of the best ways to showcase the county and our way of life,” Southworth said. “My favorite is the dairy barn, I don’t think there’s anything better than the kids showcasing their animals.”
Debora Leahy is a new volunteer at the fair among displays att he grandstand showcasing the Saratoga County Schools.
“I grew up going to the fair and I’m excited to be back now,” said Leahy.
Programming-wise, new this year are The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, vegetable spearing and mouth juggling by Matt Baker (a spear mounted atop Matt’s helmet helps) and Haai, Inc.’s Live Shark Encounter.
The 171st fair runs from Tuesday, July 17, through Sunday, July22, at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds. General admission is $10. For more information on the fair visit saratogacountyfair.org.